Disaster Response Simulation Goes Well at Southwestern College

A disaster response simulation, the first of its kind in the state of Kansas, tested out the concept of Multi-Agency Resource Center (M.A.R.C.) on Sunday, Oct. 6, in Stewart Field House on the campus of Southwestern College.The event was planned by the Directors of the service learning teams at Southwestern (the Green Team, Leadership and Discipleship) along with Dave Denly (SC Athletic Director), Brandon Hessing from SC Student Foundation and Dr. Tim Shook of the Fine Arts Department.

A total of 325 students showed up to participate in the event.  They packaged 700 comfort kits for American Red Cross distribution to victims of disasters.  A total of 20 community organizations helped run the simulation.

According to Lindsay Wilke, director of the SC service learning council, all participants who were involved took useful learning away from the event.  The local Cowley County Emergency Management, American Red Cross, and United Way of the Plains chapters now have the first ever draft of what a M.A.R.C. could look like in Kansas and what organizations would be involved and can contribute.  Community organizations noted additional trainings and research that needs to be done to be better prepared to respond in the event of a disaster.  Southwestern students were exposed to better ways to be prepared for a disaster, such as keeping copies of important documents at alternate locations.  They also took away meaningful insights that could impact their careers and civic engagement in the future.

“Southwestern College was pleased with service project efforts on Sunday,” Wilke says.  “Together with local community organizations, Southwestern students accomplished something that set us apart as a region and as a state.  It is always exciting when student learning and real life application can combine to make the community stronger.”

The purpose of the M.A.R.C. is to bring together under one roof all local and national agencies that would provide relief and assistance after a disaster. This would make it easier for victims to quickly and efficiently get the help they need.

“We hope that we will never actually have to put this plan into place in Cowley County,” says Mark Stump, director of direct services from United Way of the Plains.  “However, the more we can sit together and talk about things like this on calm, sunny days, the more prepared we will be to act quickly and efficiently in the event of an actual disaster.”

The 20 community partners that agreed to participate in the event and had booths were: American Red Cross, Cowley County Emergency Management, Southwestern College, United Methodist Committee on Relief, KSOK Radio, agents from American Family Insurance, Farm Bureau Insurance, and Albright Insurance, Salvation Army, Cowley County Animal Response Team, Cowley County Mental Health, National Chaplains Association, Winfield City Commission (represented by Beth Wilke), Cowley County Health Department, United Way of the Plains, Children’s Miracle Network, Winfield First United Methodist Church, Lions Club, Creative Community Living, and Winfield Community Helping Hands.